The Crenshaw Community Hospital recently recognized their Employee of the Quarter. This year, Lewis May had the honor of receiving this title for the work he does on site and behind the scenes.

“It was a surprise. I really thank the people that awarded me for being Employee of the Quarter,” he said.

“I just come to do my job like I always have. I’m nothing special. Everyone’s treated me really nice, and it’s easy to be nice when everybody around you is nice. I enjoy getting up and coming to work every morning, because I know they make my day a pleasant day.”

A native of Highland Home and LaPine, May made his living in the log cutting industry at the age of 17, and stayed at that job for a little over 40 years.

“One day I came here with a sick family member and talked to them about a job, and they hired me,” May said.

“Everybody’s so nice down here, I said well I found me another home.”

May has served the hospital in the departments of maintenance, housekeeping and grounds keeping since January and says that his job consists of any and everything from regular custodial duties to interacting with the patients.

“Anything they ask me to do, if I know how to do it I’ll do it,” May said.

According to Bonnie Trotter, director of patients and public relations liaison for the hospital, this nomination came from not only the staff of the hospital, but from the patients as well.

“We put out sheets in every patient information folder they get in their rooms, so they have the right to vote as well,” Trotter said.

“He has his own duties at the hospital, but it doesn’t matter. He helps everybody in every department. The moment he came in, we stopped and said I think God sent this man here. We caught him in the hall and hired him that day. He’s been an excellent employee since.”

May says that his favorite part of coming to work every day is getting to interact with so many amazing people from fellow staff members to patients and visitors.

“I’ve never worked at a place like this. When I was cutting logs, I always stayed to myself,” May said.

“To work with a group of people like that, it’s amazing how nice people are. It just makes my job a lot easier.”

May has found that in his daily work, a smile and a friendly attitude can go a long way with making those around him more at ease.

“I try to be nice to everybody and I try to smile a lot. With everybody being so nice, that makes it easy for me,” he said.

“I don’t feel like I make any kind of impact, I just appreciate everybody being so nice to me and giving me a chance. I think everybody down here has had an impact on me.”